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| RiverRun's current location. | |
RiverRun Bookstore, Portsmouth, N.H., is moving from its current location on Fleet Street to 32 Daniel Street. The store will close on January 22 and reopen in the new spot as early as January 26.
RiverRun described the new location as "sunny, but smaller than our current space," and still big enough to "cram the same number of titles in." It also will have the first "proper" office for Piscataqua Press (which "accounts for half our profits") and storage in the basement. The store will continue to sell new and used books as well as maintain an unusual sideline: buying, selling and repairing typewriters.
Although the current space has a "beautifully restored interior," Fleet Street itself is "dark, windy, and never gets proper snow removal. After five years, we still have a few people a week say, 'I didn't know you were over here!' "
The impetus for the move comes from a rent hike that would occur if RiverRun renewed its lease. The store emphasized that the landlord has been "very good to us," charging a below-market rent. "Understandably, in this booming city, that has to come to an end. We looked hard at our business and decided the best way to sustain RiverRun was to relocate."
Founded 16 years ago, RiverRun moved into its current space six years ago.